When local elections were last held in Nepal nearly two decades ago, only 20 per cent of those elected were women. This time, the percentage could go as high as 40.

Polls on 14 May will likely elect at least 13,000 women to various posts, including mayor, deputy mayor and village council chief. And at least 6,000 of them will be from the Dalit community.

“It is a big thing,” says Sarala Yadav, a former MP from Rautahat. “For Madhesi women, it is even more important.”

The Local Level Election Act 2017 requires political parties to nominate at least 50 per cent women for major posts. For example, if a party fields a male candidate for mayor, it must nominate a woman for deputy mayor. But it does not mean that if a female is nominated for mayor, another female cannot be fielded for deputy mayor. The Act has also made it mandatory for parties to nominate at least one Dalit woman for municipal and village ward committees.

So when 36,644 representatives of the people are elected next month, at least 13,300 (36.2 per cent) of them could be women. Considering the possibility that women can also be elected through non-reserved quotas, the percentage of women on local government councils may go up to 40, or even higher.

A recent report by the Asian Development Bank puts Nepal at the top among Asian countries in terms of women’s political representation. The latest report by the International Parliament Union ranks Nepal 48th globally for women’s participation in Parliament.

Nepal’s Parliament is now 29 per cent women while the public service is 35 per cent. Local elections could set another milestone in women’s political representation.

There is still no guarantee, though. For example, a municipality could have men as both mayor and deputy mayor. This would happen if people elect a man from one party as mayor and another man from another party as deputy mayor.

Political parties often face charges that they field women candidates only in those constituencies where they are not favourites to win. So women rights activists say parties must be honest when they field candidates for local elections.

“This is an opportunity that should not be squandered,” says Nirmala Sharma of Sancharika Samuha, an association of women journalists.

Melissa Chalmers: Regarding the eagle with the transmitter, the reason it might not be doing so well is because of the transmitter that is strapped to its back. Same as mobile phone towers and mobile phones that are making humans ill, the transmitter on the eagle would be giving off radiation constantly, day in and day out. Because it is attached to the bird, it would never have a reprieve from these signals. The safety code for these devices are based on thermal heating of a large human. Smaller animals are not covered under the safety code as they cannot thermally regulate themselves the same as a human being. No thermal health effects are not being considered at all. Please take this transmitter off this eagle and give it a chance at having a normal rest of its life. Melissa Chalmers Executive Director of EPIC Electromagnetic Pollution Illnesses Canada Foundation

M Cotton: Congratulations to Yeti Airlines for pioneering such forward looking initiatives in the Nepal corporate sector. Let’s hope this inspires others involved in industry and commerce to follow similar approaches. M Cotton

Chris Avison: Well said Seth. Ed Hillary was the Patron of the first successful Irish expedition to climb Mount Everest in May 1993. The leader was Dawson Stelfox, who is Patron of Irish Nepalese Educational Trust (INET), a charity born out of that expedition. Today, several schools and community buildings are up and running, together with a few more in the pipeline. Along with this small scale support, INET encourages environmental and health education. There is no doubt that Ed Hillary was the spark that set this alight, along with the enthusiasm of the Irish climbers and their Nepalese friends who travelled with them. Of course, none of these things are possible without the generosity of the friendly and hard working Nepalese themselves.

anonymous: We are witnessing that the people of Nepal are not only misinformed by interested parties, they are loyal and traditional therefore Bibishek Nepal with young people does not inspire confidence. The problem is the politician is just one mouth, more important are group decisions thaw will move Nepal into the new era. All fighting communists, maoists should be voted OUT they created the problem no one mended potholes now lets say time is UP> Future is for new generations, make a simbolic funeral for all current politicians, keep them as advisor but eough is enough since 20 years. Jay NEPAL.

anonymous: Usually proven result gives more money than forever cloudy info.

Arne Walderhaug: Two years on, still wondering if I will be to land at Pokhara International before I’m six foot under.

Shree Shrestha: What’s wrong with building concrete retaining wall? KMC should have built surrounding areas park like and leave the temple to be rebuilt by originalists. The way it’s going on Ranipokhari will become garbage dump site.

chet: its so sad to see the beautiful looking rani pokhari looks trash now i remember the old Rani pokhari now and i miss the beauty. In the middle of the crowd Rani Pokharai looked appealing to everyone. Really like if government could renovate it as soon as possible

gary Parkinson: Not for one moment do I believe this.An excuse for this corrupt government to carry on stealing more international money.They have a fine record on this,money has obviously been filtered into their own coffers.

Madhav: Repercussions of Kathmandu running Hashtag gobackindia. Anyway it’s good as social media nationalist must have pledged billions of dollars themselves. Charity begins at home.

Bhumsen: Lets assume Nepal got all the money. Then politicians and government officers will siphon the money anyway. Poor Nepali will never get their hands in the fund. In the name of development, funds will dry out. It is better if donors dont send money. Nepali needs to learn to be independent. Down with Corruption.

Crony n chronic party: Congress needed to suffer heavy loss to get away from Koirala clique and cronyism. New blood needs to be pumped or else suffer fate of Indian Congress. Educated lot needs to rise up and ol fogies our.